Campus Alert Archive
Clemson

'Unprecedented' in the Upstate: Hurricane Helene Dumps 10 Inches on Clemson, Topples Trees, and Blacks Out Campus

SChurricaneemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

Clemson University closed at 7:00 PM on Thursday, September 26, 2024, as Hurricane Helene bore down on the South Carolina Upstate with 8 to 10 inches of expected rainfall and wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. The storm swept through overnight, leaving behind downed trees, damaged property, and widespread power outages across the region. Classes were canceled through Monday.

Alerts
3
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Clemson University
Public R1 · SC
~28,000 studentsCU Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTPush
Approximate reconstructionClemson University Public Safety Facebook page245 chars
URGENT CU ALERT: Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, Clemson University upstate locations will close at 7 PM tonight, Thursday, September 26. Classes scheduled for Thursday evening are e-Learning optional at the discretion of the instructor.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from the Clemson University Public Safety Facebook page which posted the CU Alert message
The closure began at 7:00 PM on September 26 with evening classes made optional
Hurricane Helene was expected to bring 8-10 inches of rainfall and wind gusts of 50-60 mph to campus
UPDATEPush
Approximate reconstruction289 chars
CU ALERT UPDATE: Clemson University main campus is closed today, Friday, September 27. All Friday classes are canceled. While main campus has power and damage is minimal, widespread power outages continue throughout the area. Downed trees are blocking multiple roads. Proceed with caution.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from the Clemson News September 27 campus community update
The main campus had power and minimal damage, but the surrounding area experienced significant outages
Students and residents woke to downed trees and power lines across the region
UPDATEPush
Approximate reconstruction231 chars
CU ALERT UPDATE: Clemson University is closed Monday, September 30. All classes are canceled. The university continues to evaluate the impact of Hurricane Helene. Check clemson.edu for updates on when normal operations will resume.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from the Clemson News announcement that classes were canceled on Monday
The university faced criticism for initially planning to hold the football game against Stanford on Saturday despite surrounding damage
The extended closure reflected ongoing power and infrastructure issues in the surrounding community
Context

Background

Hurricane Helene struck the South Carolina Upstate on the night of September 26-27, 2024, bringing what The Tiger student newspaper called 'unprecedented' conditions to Clemson and the surrounding area. The university closed at 7:00 PM on September 26 ahead of the worst weather, which arrived overnight with wind gusts exceeding 50 mph and 8 to 10 inches of rainfall. While the main campus retained power and damage was described as minimal, the broader region suffered widespread power outages and downed trees blocking roads. The university adjusted Saturday gameday operations for the football game against Stanford, delaying parking lot openings and gate times, but faced public criticism for proceeding with the game while many surrounding residents remained without power. Classes were ultimately canceled through Monday as recovery continued.
Analysis

Key Findings

Main campus had power and minimal damage, but the surrounding Upstate region experienced widespread outages and destruction
The university closed for approximately four days, from Thursday evening through Monday
Clemson faced public criticism for holding the Saturday football game while surrounding communities lacked power
The hurricane brought 8-10 inches of rain and 50-60 mph wind gusts, with some isolated hurricane-force gusts
Outcome
While the main campus retained power and sustained minimal structural damage, widespread outages affected the broader Clemson area and Upstate region. Downed trees blocked multiple roads. The university was criticized for initially planning to hold a Saturday football game against Stanford despite the surrounding damage, before ultimately canceling Monday classes.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Clemson University closed for Hurricane Helene (WSPA)
    wspa.com
  2. Student Paper
    'Unprecedented': Hurricane Helene hits Clemson, the Upstate (The Tiger)
    thetigercu.com
  3. Official
    Campus Community Update - Sept. 27 (Clemson News)
    news.clemson.edu
  4. News
    Clemson blasted for holding football game in aftermath of Helene (Post and Courier)
    postandcourier.com
Tags
hurricanehurricane-helenesouth-carolinacampus-closurepower-outagewind-damagemulti-day-eventclass-cancellation
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion